Colossians 2

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 For I would have you know, what manner of care I have for you and for them that are at Laodicea, and whosoever have not seen my face in the flesh:	1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I am having for you and for those in Laodicea and all who have not seen me face to face,
2 That their hearts may be comforted, being instructed in charity, and unto all riches of fulness of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus:	2 that their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding, for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ,
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.	3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words.	4 I say this so that no one may deceive you by specious arguments.
5 For though I be absent in body, yet in spirit I am with you; rejoicing, and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith which is in Christ.	5 For even if I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing as I observe your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6 As therefore you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, walk ye in him;	6 So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him,
7 Rooted and built up in him, and confirmed in the faith, as also you have learned, abounding in him in thanksgiving.	7 rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ:	8 See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally;	9 For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily,
10 And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power:	10 and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power.
11 In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ:	11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ.
12 Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead.	12 You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences:	13 And even when you were dead (in) transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of the decree that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he hath taken the same out of the way, fastening it to the cross:	14 obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross;
15 And despoiling the principalities and powers, he hath exposed them confidently in open shew, triumphing over them in himself.	15 despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths,	16 Let no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath.
17 Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.	17 These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ.
18 Let no man seduce you, willing in humility, and religion of angels, walking in the things which he hath not seen, in vain puffed up by the sense of his flesh,	18 Let no one disqualify you, delighting in self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, inflated without reason by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the head, from which the whole body, by joints and bands, being supplied with nourishment and compacted, groweth unto the increase of God.	19 and not holding closely to the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and bonds, achieves the growth that comes from God.
20 If then you be dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why do you yet decree as though living in the world?	20 If you died with Christ to the elemental powers of the world, why do you submit to regulations as if you were still living in the world?
21 Touch not, taste not, handle not:	21 "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"
22 Which all are unto destruction by the very use, according to the precepts and doctrines of men.	22 These are all things destined to perish with use; they accord with human precepts and teachings.
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.	23 While they have a semblance of wisdom in rigor of devotion and self-abasement (and) severity to the body, they are of no value against gratification of the flesh.